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Today we will be discussing platelet rich plasma or PRP. Autologous PRP injections are quite common and are used to aid in wound healing. Autologous PRP injections have become quite common in many clinical settings ranging from the orthopedic setting to dermatology, especially since major athletes such as Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant and Hines Ward […]

Hello and welcome to Transfusion News. Today we will be discussing transfusion-transmitted dengue virus infections that occurred during the 2012 outbreak in Brazil. Dengue is now present in over 100 counties. Since 2002, there have been documented transfusion-transmitted infections in Hong Kong, Singapore, Puerto Rico, and Brazil. Dr. Brian Custer describes his study on transfusion-transmitted […]

Today we will be discussing the relative efficacy of different screening strategies for the hepatitis C virus (or HCV). Similar to other viral infections, HCV has a pre-serological “window period,” where donated blood may contain infectious particles which are detectible by a nucleic acid test, but does not have detectable antibodies to the virus. Blood […]

Today we will be discussing pathogen reduction which inactivates bacteria, viruses and parasites that may contaminate blood products. European countries have been using pathogen reduction systems for over 10 years, and the FDA has recently approved pathogen reduction systems for platelets and plasma. Pathogen reduction technology for red cells is lagging, but is under development. […]

Today we’ll be discussing TRALI, or transfusion-related acute lung injury. A major cause of TRALI is donor antibodies to white blood cells such as HLA and HNA, which activate leukocytes and neutrophils, and trigger the innate immune response. This process leads to acute lung injury. Other non-immune mediators, however, such as cell debris and biologically […]

Today we will be discussing a newly formed United States hemovigilance system that tracks adverse reactions related to transfusions. While transfusions are the most common medical procedure performed in the United States, adverse reactions ranging from mild allergic reactions to severe life-threatening events can occur. Dr. Roger Dodd who wrote an editorial on the subject […]

Today we will be discussing red blood cell transfusions in cardiac surgery patients. Several trials have shown that a restrictive approach to transfusion is a safe alternative to a liberal approach for most patients. However, these studies have not evaluated cardiac surgery patients who may benefit from increased oxygen carrying capacity. Dr. Barnaby Reeves, who […]

Today we will be discussing a new storage solution and filtration system for blood products. Their use could increase the shelf life of red blood cells and allow overnight storage of whole blood before component processing. Here is Dr. Larry Dumont who tested a new additive solution, AS-7, and a filtration system: “Red blood cell […]

Today we will be discussing the proper transfusion ratio of plasma, platelets and red blood cells for trauma patients. While the rapid transfusion of blood for severely bleeding trauma patients is critical, the exact ratio of plasma to platelets to red blood cells has not been comprehensively examined until now. Here is Dr. John Holcomb, who […]